• A. Approximately 25 countries
  • B. Approximately 40 countries
  • C. Approximately 55 countries
  • D. Approximately 70 countries

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There are more than you think! It’s not just EU countries participating – countries from outside Europe can also take part. And yes, that makes it quite confusing.

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The correct answer is B. Approximately 40 countries.

Usually around 40 to 43 countries participate. In 2024 there were 37, which was on the low side because Russia has not been welcome since 2022. In good years there can even be 43. The number fluctuates quite a bit – some countries skip a year because they don’t have the budget, or because they have to struggle through a semi-final after a few mediocre years.

📚 More background information

The Song Contest has been around since 1956 and has grown into an enormous spectacle. But here’s where it gets interesting: it’s called “Euro”-vision, but geographical Europe? Forget it. You’ve got Israel simply participating, Australia suddenly showing up since 2015 (how?!), and Azerbaijan. The reason? It’s not about your location, but whether you’re a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). That’s the club that organizes the whole circus.

The absolute record stands at 43 countries – that happened in 2008, 2011 and 2018. Pretty impressive actually. And then you have the so-called “Big Five”: Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. They’re always automatically through to the final, along with the host country. Why? Because they contribute the most money to the pot. It’s not fair, but that’s just how it works. The rest has to make it through two semi-finals.

There are also countries that are allowed to participate but simply… don’t. Liechtenstein has never tried. Monaco last participated in 2006 and then dropped out. Turkey has stayed away since 2012 in protest against the voting rules and some political frustrations. Sometimes it’s just too expensive, sometimes other things are at play.

The Netherlands has won the contest five times: 1957, 1959, 1969, 1975 and – most recently – 2019 with Duncan Laurence and “Arcade”. That song actually went viral worldwide, beyond the Song Contest. That win meant the Netherlands would host in 2020 in Rotterdam, but well… COVID threw a wrench in the works. Eventually the contest went ahead in 2021 at Ahoy anyway, so we got to experience it after all.

With more than 180 million viewers worldwide, the Eurovision Song Contest is much bigger than many people think. It’s not just a music competition – it’s a cultural phenomenon that countries seriously invest money and effort in. Whether you find it kitsch or great entertainment, you can’t deny that it has impact.